At 14, Khadijat Mohammed can already boast of a senior national title and a Junior ITF title, a feat which many Nigerian tennis players can only dream of.
Her 2023 Dala Hard Court title win was deemed not so serious because there was no tough opposition at the tournament to test her ability.
Unfazed by talks about the manner of her victory at the senior national level, the Abuja-based youngster entered to play at the J30 Abuja event held across two legs.
Mohammed lost in the quarterfinal of the first leg to eventual winner, Ohunene Yakubu, and cried bitterly after the match because, according to her “I could have done better, I could have still won”.
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The loss apparently fueled her desire and determination to get back into the court for the second leg, where she showed that all she wanted was the title, and she got it.
On her way to winning, she faced the two best junior players in the country, Etoro Bassey and Ohunene Yakubu, an indication that she meant business and really wanted it.
After her impeccable win, Mohammed had a really beautiful smile on her face. She wore this smile until she was presented with her ITF title. The smile was infectious.
“My goal was to win Singles and Doubles but it didn’t happen. I’m very grateful for this win and I am really happy because I really fought hard for it,” she told Nigeria Tennis Live in Abuja.
On how this compares with her Dala Hard Court win, Mohammed said: “Last year, I cannot say I did anything really. I know I won the Dala tournament but it was not really as competitive as I would have expected.
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“But this ITF title, I won it because I fought really hard for it. It was very very competitive, you could see the players that were there.
“So, I smiled throughout because I was very happy to have won the title”.
Our correspondent asked if she had other external motivations while on court that propelled her to the title, and she explained that while there were promises, she did not remember them while she was playing.
“There were a lot of promises. My brother promised to get me a phone if I win this ITF title. My dad says he’s getting me one more racket, my mum also promised to take me out.
“I didn’t think about the promises, I’d have lost 12-0 because I would have been playing with too much pressure,” the excited youngster told Nigeria Tennis Live.